1
|
Alghamdi MA, Alghamdi SM, Bahadur YA, Asiri MA, AlHussain HA, Alhebshi AS, Alothman MO, Al-Omair AS, Alghamdi AA, Qanat AS, Aqeeli MO, Alsuhaibani AA, Alshehri SM, Alotain IM, Mail NK, Alhashemi HH, Alassaf HA. Scholarly Activity of Radiation Oncologists in High-Income Developing Countries: Saudi Arabia as an Example. JCO Glob Oncol 2021; 7:378-383. [PMID: 33720748 PMCID: PMC8081503 DOI: 10.1200/go.20.00449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To examine the trends and quality metrics of publications by radiation oncologists in Saudi Arabia. METHODS PubMed was searched using names of all Saudi radiation oncologists to retrieve published articles between January 2010 and December 2019. International collaboration, journal impact factor and country of origin, and number of citations were collected. Each article was assessed for epidemiologic type and independently assigned a level of evidence (LOE) by two authors. The trend in publications was examined and compared in the first and second 5-year periods (2010-2014 and 2015-2019) using relevant parameters. RESULTS A total of 186 publications were found and included. The most common type of research was cohort studies followed by case reports and case series in 24%, 14%, and 13% of all publications, respectively. Dosimetry, clinical, and preclinical studies formed 7%, 8.6%, and 7.5% of the total publications, respectively. The LOE was I, II, III, IV, and not applicable in 8.6%, 22%, 25.8%, 29%, and 14.5% of the included publications, respectively. Comparing the first and second 5-year periods, there was an increase in international collaboration (P < .001) in the second period. The number of citations (P < .001) and journal impact factor (P = .028) were lower in the second period. LOE and publications in international journals were not statistically different between the two periods. CONCLUSION Although radiation oncology research activity in Saudi Arabia has gained momentum in terms of volume and international collaboration over time, the LOE has not improved. This calls for a national effort to make the contribution to the literature a priority, allocate adequate resources, and apply appropriate measures to enhance research productivity and quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Majed A Alghamdi
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Al Baha University, Al Baha, Saudi Arabia.,Radiation Oncology, Princess Norah Oncology Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suliman M Alghamdi
- Radiation Oncology, Princess Norah Oncology Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yasir A Bahadur
- Department of Radiology, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mushabbab A Asiri
- Radiation Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hussain A AlHussain
- Radiation Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adnan S Alhebshi
- Radiation Oncology, Oncology Institute, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majid O Alothman
- Radiation Oncology, Oncology Institute, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ameen S Al-Omair
- Radiation Oncology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Ahmed S Qanat
- College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed O Aqeeli
- College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah A Alsuhaibani
- Radiation Oncology, University Oncology Center, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Salem M Alshehri
- Radaition Oncology, Department of Oncology, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim M Alotain
- Radaition Oncology, Department of Oncology, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Noor K Mail
- Radiation Oncology, Princess Norah Oncology Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hashem H Alhashemi
- Department of Internal Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hossam A Alassaf
- Radiation Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|